The Foundation has made notable achievements in the areas of:

• Buildings and other support to Downing College Cambridge
• Biomedical Research
• Sponsoring International Meetings

Downing College

The Foundation made substantial donations to Downing College, between 1984 and 2009, for the creation of three new buildings: The Howard Building; Howard Court and the Howard Theatre and other infrastructure until 2012. The Foundation also contributed to the Heong Gallery and in 2023 provided a postgraduate travel bursary.

In recognition of the significant contributions of the Foundation to Downing College, Julie Lambert (Foundation Chair) and Jon Howard (Trustee and Treasurer), daughter and son of Alan Howard, were awarded a Foundation Fellowship by Downing College, Cambridge in February 2022.

Click on the button below for an outline of the Foundation’s support given to Downing College.

Biomedical Research

During the 1980s and 1990s the Foundation financed a research unit at the Cambridge Science Park, called Howard Foundation Research (HFR).  They organised or assisted numerous independent clinical trials nationally & internationally on obesity, culminating in  the 1993 book “The Swansea Trial”.  Click here for information about HFR and the Lipotrim programme.

One line of research led to Dr Howard taking a great interest in carotenoids which led to the Foundation sponsoring research in this area.

In 1993, Dr Howard and Professor Thurnham identified the potential benefits of the carotenoid mezo-zeaxanthin.

In 2007, Dr Howard met Professor Nolan who had been studying the efficacy of the three carotenoids (Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-zeaxanthin). They collaborated on research that has continued after Dr Howard’s death in 2020. Click on the button below for further information on this research.

International Meetings

The Foundation organised and sponsored meetings on obesity in 1986 (Israel), 1989 (Cambridge) and 1990 (Japan),  on creatine in 2010 at Downing College, Cambridge. In October 2020, the Foundation sponsored a memorial seminar for Roger Harris to celebrate his work on creatine.

Dr Howard and Professor Nolan started the conferences on macular carotenoids, sponsored by the Foundation in 2011, 2013, and 2015, also at Downing College. They then created BON, the “Brain and Ocular Nutrition” network of scientists in 2015. The first “BON” conference was held in the Howard Theatre at Downing College 11-13th July 2018. The second conference, delayed due to the COVID pandemic, was held 27th-29th July 2022 where the Foundation provided a travel grant for young scientists. The third BON conference was held at Endicott College, just north of Boston, Massachusetts, on 17-20 June 2025 where travel grants were again awarded by the Foundation. A fourth BON conference in planned for 2028 and will be held in Europe. For further information click the button below: